Washington, D.C. Metro Fare Evasion Crackdown
Authorities in Washington, D.C. have initiated a crackdown on fare evasion on metro buses, leading to approximately 400 citations and five arrests from May 24 to May 28, according to a senior official.
Randy Clark, General Manager of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), discussed the fare evasion issue on May 28 with Montgomery County District 4 Councilwoman Kate Stewart and other officials. This initiative follows an estimation that Metrobus and Metrorail lost over $50 million collectively due to fare evasion in fiscal year 2025, as reported by Capitol News Service.
“We’re going to enhance our uniform presence,” Clark stated. “The Secretary and his team are planning a significant response to the bus system, which might mean scaling back a bit on rail enforcement, though safety there will still be prioritized. That said, we’re also stepping up our management team significantly. Sure, that approach isn’t sustainable long-term, but we plan to intensify our efforts over the next few weeks.”
WMATA has poured millions into upgrading ticket gates at various stations, and officials believe this investment is yielding results. Fare evasion rates have dropped to 4.8% on the rail system, an impressive decrease of 82%. However, the fare evasion rate on Metrobus stands at a stark 69.4%, according to data shared at the May 14 Metro meeting.
“We’re committed to enforcing fare compliance,” Clark noted, addressing law enforcement protocols. “Our aim is not to draw attention or to remove anyone from the bus. We certainly wish to avoid situations escalating to arrests, but enforcing fare compliance is necessary.”
“Individuals need to either pay their fare or face removal from the bus. If they disregard the officer’s direction, they may be arrested—not for fare evasion, but for non-compliance and other offenses. Since we started this campaign on Sunday, we’ve conducted nearly 400 checks on buses and arrested five for outstanding warrants,” he explained to the press.
In both Maryland and Virginia, fare evasion is classified as an offense, while in Washington, D.C., it is treated as a civil matter. Fare evaders may incur fines of up to $50 in D.C. and up to $100 in Maryland or Virginia.
Clark elaborated on strategies to combat fare evasion: “A police officer in a patrol car can monitor the bus’s camera in real-time, while another officer at a stop further down can communicate with them. For instance, if they spot individuals not paying their fare, they can relay that to the officer at the stop who will then address the situation.” He mentioned that this kind of coordinated enforcement is likely unprecedented in the country.
